Image processing apparatus and method

Abstract

A transformation unit 102 transforms an entered image to multi-resolution space. A quantizer 105 performs vector quantization on a local pattern of an image of a multi-resolution representation. A perspective-order calculating unit 107 extracts a plurality of code words, positions corresponding thereto and/or angle of rotation and/or scale, and the perspective-order relationship of a plurality of these representative vectors, from the quantized image. An algebraic encoder 108 encodes the input image based upon the extracted information. As a result, there are provided an image processing apparatus and method for asymmetric encoding without motion in three dimensions and extraction of a three-dimensional structure. Further, a transformation unit 1103 transforms an entered image to vector field, and a singularity detector 1104 detects a singularity in the transformed image. A transformation encoder 1105 partitions the vector field into areas which include detected feature points, and each area is encoded by functional approximation. As a result, a finite number of feature points can be obtained with ease and an image processing apparatus and method exhibiting strong resistance to the effects of noise are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for entering an image;   transformation means for transforming data of the input image, which is represented by a function on a two-dimensional plane entered by said input means, to a complex function;   detecting means for detecting a pole of the complex function transformed by said transformation means;   dividing means for dividing a domain of the complex function into a plurality of subdomains based upon a position of each pole detected by said detecting means; and   arithmetic means for calculating corresponding to each of the plurality of subdomains, a polynomial expansion of finite degree approximating the complex function about the pole in the respective subdomain.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects the pole by the argument principle. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said detecting means applies the argument principle to circles, each circle having a radius of one pixel and containing a respective one pixel of the input image as a center. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising calculating means for calculating amount of control of an input parameter of said input means based upon the pole. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said input means has a wide-view lens and an array sensor and controls angle of rotation of an optic axis based upon the amount of control. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said calculation means calculates the amount of control so that the wide-view lens places a pole on the optical axis. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dividing means divides a domain into a plurality of subdomains so that each subdomain contains only one pole. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means further detects a zero point. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said arithmetic means calculates coefficients of the polynomial expansion on the basis of the detected pole and zero point. 
     
     
       10. An image processing method comprising: an input step of entering an image;   a transformation step of transforming data of the input image, which is represented by a function on a two-dimensional plane entered at said input step, to a complex function;   a detecting step of detecting a pole of the complex function transformed at said transformation step;   a dividing step of dividing a domain of the complex function into a plurality of subdomains based upon a position of each pole detected at said detecting step; and   an arithmetic step of calculating, corresponding to each of the plurality of subdomains, a polynomial expansion of finite degree approximating the complex function about the pole in the respective subdomain.   
     
     
       11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising a calculating step of calculating amount of control of an input parameter of an input device for inputting the image used in said input step based upon the pole. 
     
     
       12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said input device comprises a wide-view lens and an array sensor, and an angle of rotation of an optic axis of said lens is controlled based upon the amount of control in said input step. 
     
     
       13. The method according to claim 11, wherein, in said calculation step, the amount of control is calculated so that the wide-view lens places a pole on the optical axis. 
     
     
       14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said detecting step further comprising a step of detecting the pole by the argument principle. 
     
     
       15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said detecting step adopts the argument principle to circles, each circle having a radius of one pixel and containing a respective one pixel of the input image as a center. 
     
     
       16. The method according to claim 10, wherein, in said dividing step, a domain is divided into a plurality of subdomains so that each subdomain contains only one pole. 
     
     
       17. The method according to claim 10, wherein, in said detecting step, a zero point is further detected. 
     
     
       18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, in said arithmetic step, coefficients of the polynomial expansion are calculated on the basis of the detected pole and zero point.